Planted around ten years ago, our estate vineyard is exclusively planted to Pinot Noir. Ideally situated at the north-east end of the Petaluma Gap, the climate is ideal for Pinot Noir.
The estate experiences moderate daytime temperatures, even by Sonoma Coast AVA standards, allowing for prolonged hang-time (for phenolic maturity) while maintaining fresh pulp (for balanced acidity). During the growing season, the average summertime diurnal shift (difference from the day’s high and low temperatures) is 30-degrees. A blanket of fog settles over the vineyard most nights during the growing season, bringing welcome cool air and moisture. Refreshing breezes during the day, chase away the fog and dry the area, limiting fungal pressures. This cool wind also leads to thick skins in the grapes, meaning more color and structure for the wines.
With high water retention soils on the estate, we have to control vigor (vine growth) through additional work in the vineyard (heading, leaf removal, lateral removal, crop thinning, etc.)
This 2019 Estate Pinot Noir is a blend of all five Pinot Noir clones that we have planted at this site. The Pommard clone is often referred to as an “Heirloom Clone”, along with the Dijon Clones 667, 828, 115 and 777. In creating this blend as a complete phenolic “survey” of this site, this wine has unparalleled harmony, complexity, and integration of flavors and textures.